THE GENUINE FIRST SUNRISE

Long before Epiphany and stories of Three Kings
Ancient peoples noted the event that this date brings.
For on this date the morning sun within the Northern Skies
Will pass the point most tardy of its daily morning rise.

It is reborn, no longer old and in a weak decline.
From henceforth, for the next six months, ‘twill ever sooner shine.
Though the druids built their henges, as a solstice marking tool
The Vikings used this later date to mark the end of Yule.

The solstice merely marked the start; its death throes if you will.
For sixteen days they kept strict watch, as they drank and ate their fill,
Waiting for its rebirth, as the start of every year,
Until on the sixth of January they gave a mighty cheer.

So although the first of January convention has decreed
To start the year. I think that to the Vikings we ought heed.
It marks when we first notice the lengthening of each day.
‘Tis the “Genuine First Sunrise” of the new year, I would say.
© P. Finne.

Dating is an arbitrary means for fixing trade cycles. It doesn’t actually mean anything.

Napoleon messed with the calendar for a few years but it didn’t work efficiently

Not really true anymore since BC was replaced by BCE.

But I agree the equinox would be better, and new year does not fit the solstice either, it was just a date in the Roman calender fitted to the ancient South European agricultural cycles, Roman tradition and the whims of the Emperor Augustus, a practical compromise because they admitted they could not make the cycles of the moon fit, and a few later fixes by the Catholic Church.

But it could be worse, the Islamic world is still fiddling around with the moon.

“his” supposed B-Day was a summer/ harvest time event.. as Theologians have determined. It was moved to the 25th to displace the Pagans celebration of the Winter Solstice … which is three days off due to the Romans having messed up their calendar

“New Year's” day has no celestial significance whatsoever… I’d agree, an Equinox would be fair to both hemispheres.. Beyond the two Solstices & Equinoxes … it’s all prettymuch a bag of bullshit

It would make way more sense. I like it.

Now how do we get them to do it?